The spleen and kidney

This connection is mainly reflected in the relationship between congenital and acquired qi. The spleen is considered to be the acquired foundation, and the kidney the congenital foundation. Kidney essence relies on the supply of essential substances of water and food, transported and transformed by the spleen. The spleen ' s transportation and transformation function in turn relies on the warming and propelling activities of kidney yang. Thus the congenital promotes the acquired, and the acquired nourishes the congenital.

Pathologically, the spleen and kidney influence each other. When kidney yang is deficient, it will fail to warm spleen yang, leading to deficiency of spleen yang. When spleen yang is deficient, it will lead to preponderance of yin and cold in the interior, which may impair kidney yang and cause deficiency if prolonged. Clinically the symptoms may include abdominal Fullness, borborygmus, loose stools, soreness and pain of the lumbar region and knees, aversion to cold and cold limbs, known as " deficiency of yang of both spleen and kidney. "